Flying target.



No. 802,329. PATENTED OGT.1'7, 1905. E. D. SGHMITT. FLYING TARGET.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26, 1905.

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No. 802,329. PATENTED 0OT.1'7, 1905. B. D. SGHMITT.

FLYING TARGET.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26. 1905.

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EDWARD D. SGHMITT, OF NETV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HALLAGK A. PENROSE,OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLYlNG TARGET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1'7, 1905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD D. SCHMITT, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying Targets, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in targets adapted to be throwninto the air or given flight by mechanical means to test themarksmanship.

The sport of live-bird shooting is exceedingly costly and in many placesprohibited by law as being inhumane, and while the shooting of claypigeons is interesting it lacks in a great degree the fascination of thesport first mentioned.

The object of this invention is to provide a target in close resemblanceto a live bird both in flight and in action in falling when hit. Itcontemplates the provision of a body having wings adapted to balance thetarget in flight and which by suitable connections with the body properwill be collapsed or dropped when the target is hit, in combination withmeans which act in conjunction with the wing to guide the target inflight, all the details of which will be described in the followingspecilication.

lln the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the target in theposition it assumes in flight. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of same; Fig.3, a transverse section taken about on line X X of Fig. 2 looking towardthe head of the target. Fig. 4L is a perspective view of the body properremoved from the frame. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the headdetached. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the tail, and Fig. 7 is a detailperspective view of a part of the means for attaching the head or tailto the frame.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the frame, preferablyformed of narrow thin metallic strips 2 and 3, the strip 3 being bentinto the elliptical shape shown and oppositely disposed to the strip 2.The strip 2 is about half the length of the strip 3, and they are bothsoldered or otherwise lirmly secured together where they cross, asindicated by the numeral 4:, thus bringing the part2 in horizontal planeand the strip 3 in vertical position when the target is in flight. Thenumeral 5 designates a central band formed of the same material asstrips 2 and 3. This is soldered or otherwise secured to the strip 3 ata and to the strip 2 at 7), or this band may be integral with the part3, if desired. By thus forming the frame it is adapted to receive andhold the body proper, 6, formed of thin metal, hollow, and is of suchsize as to have play in the frame. This body is slotted at the sides, asat 7, to receive the inner ends of two wings 8. The wings are preferablyformed of thin metal and of such weight and character as to besusceptible of being bent into position to guide the target. They are soformed and attached to said target as to insure its flight upward at theproper angle or to guide it in a straigl'itaway course and to balance oraid in balancing the target in flight. The inner ends of these wingspass through slots 9 in the band 5 and are pivoted or hinged thcreto, asindicated by the numeral 10, and extend through the slots 7 in the body,are bent downwardly and then substantially parallel with the outerportions of the wings, forming short horizontal arms 11, which arebrought opposite each other. A. small space separates the ends of thesearms, which space is bridged by the lower ends of the short'pin 12,rigidly secured to the inside of the body 6. This pin has anapproximately semicircular recess 13 in its lower end, which embracesthe ends of the arms 11 when the target is set preparatory to throwing.it will be seen that as the recess 13 in the end of the pin istransverse to the direction of the target in flight the wings will beheld in position with sufficient force when the target is thrown toinsure the necessary and desired flight; but should the body be twistedor moved in the frame the pin will disengage the arms 11 and permit thewings to drop or collapse, thus destroying the balance and disabling thebird, causing it to fall to the ground.

The band 5 is slightly dropped, as at c, and bears lightly upon the bodyto prevent it from moving vertically in the frame, although obviouslypermitting movement in every other direction under proper conditions.

The numerals 1a and 15 designate two segmental pieces secured rigidly toopposite ends of the frame and recessed, indicated by the numeral 16, toreceive the tenon l? on the head 18 and a similar tenon 17' on the tail19. This construction permits the head and tail, which assist in guidingthe target in flight, to be set at any desired angle with relation tothe body, so that the course of the target in flight can be varied tosuit the requirements of the sport.

To set the wings, I provide an aperture 20 in the under side of the bodyin convenient position for the insertion of the finger.

In Fig. 2 I have shown in dotted lines a means with the use of which theouter parts of the wings may be moved independently of the arms 11. Inthis construction I provide recesses in the outer parts of the wings forthe reception of short studs 21 on the outer ends of the arms 11.

In operation, assuming the bird to be in flight with the wingsoutstretched, the shot hits the body 6, which is exposed at all pointssave where covered by the narrow strips of the frame, and moves it fromnormal position to one side or the other, or forward with considerableforce and suddenness, causing the pin carried thereby to disengage thearms 11, letting the wings drop. which will obviously destroy theequilibrium or balance of the target and cause it to fall.

Any suitable means for throwing the target may be adoptedas, forinstance, it may be provided with guides adapted to embrace arod-carrying spring-actuated means to throw the target, giving the samea straight initial movement. I do not, however, limit myself to anyparticular means for throwing the target and merely mention this as oneof the many ways that would suggest itself to the mechanic as a resultof the requirements of the case.

l. A target of the character described comprising a suitable frame,wings foldably connected to the frame, and means actuated by the shot todrop or fold the wings.

2. A target of the character described comprising a suitable frame,wings foldably connected to the frame, means actuated by the shot todrop or fold the wings, and means acting in conjunction with the wingsto assist in guiding the target in flight.

3. A target of the character described com-' prising a suitable frame, abody movable in said frame, wings foldably connected to the frame andengaging the body, means carried by the body for keeping the wings inposition for flight when the body is in normal position but adapted topermit them to drop when said body is moved from normal position.

4. A target comprising a suitable frame, a body movable in said frame,wings foldably connected with the frame and engaging the .body wherebythey are kept in position for flight when said body is in normalposition, but are dropped or folded when the body is moved, and means inconjunction with the wings for assisting and guiding the target.

5. A target comprising a suitable frame, a

slotted body movable in said frame, wings pivoted to said frame andhaving arms extending through the slots in said body, a pin carried bysaid body adapted to engage the ends of the arms and hold them in setposition for flight butto disengage said arms to permit the wings tofall when said body is moved from normal position, and means forassisting in guiding the target, substantially as described.

6. A target comprising a suitable frame, wings pivoted thereto, meanscarried by said frame adapted to hold the wings in position for flightwhen in normal position, but to release the wings and permit them todrop when in abnormal position, and means in conjunction with, saidwings for aiding in guiding the target in flight.

7. A target comprising a suitable frame, a slotted body movable in saidframe, wings pivoted to the frame and having arms extending through theslots in said body, a pin carried by said body adapted to engage theends of the arms when the target is set for flight but to disengage saidarms to permit the wings to fall when said body is moved from normalposition, members secured to the ends of the frame and having curvedrecesses therein, and guiding means carrying tenons adapted to entersaid recesses in said. members, substantially as described.

8. A target comprising a suitable frame, wings pivoted thereto, meanscarried by said frame adapted to hold wings in position for flight whenin normal position, and a head and a tail which in conjunction with saidwings constitute the means for balancing and guiding the target inflight, substantially as described.

9. A target comprising a suitable frame, wings pivoted thereto, meanscarried by said frame, adapted to hold the wings in position for flightwhen in normal position, or to re lease the wings and permit them todrop when in abnormal position, and means in conjunction with the wingsto guide and balance said target, and means for adjusting said guidingand balancing means, whereby the flight of the target may bepredetermined.

10. A target of the character described comprising a suitable frame,guiding means adapted to be folded or collapsed when the target is hit,and means actuated by the shot to fold or collapse the guiding means todestroy the balance of the target and cause the same to fall.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

EDWARD D. SCHMITT.

Witnesses:

CHAS. T. LUTHER, S. H. STAPLETON.

